U.S. patent application number 15/846976 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-28 for charging control apparatus for vehicle and charging control method for the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Shinji ICHIKAWA.
Application Number | 20180178668 15/846976 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60915350 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180178668 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ICHIKAWA; Shinji |
June 28, 2018 |
CHARGING CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND CHARGING CONTROL METHOD
FOR THE SAME
Abstract
A charging control apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The
vehicle includes a motor generator and an electric power storage
device. The charging control apparatus includes: a communication
device configured to receive data from a server; and a controller
that executes external charging. The controller is configured to
execute the external charging in accordance with a target value of
State of Charge of the electric power storage device. The
controller is configured to lower the target value from a first
target value to a second target value in the case where the
controller predicts that the State Of Charge exceeds the target
value by a specified amount or larger in a section in accordance
with record data that is aggregated in the server when the vehicle
starts traveling after completion of the external charging.
Inventors: |
ICHIKAWA; Shinji;
(Toyota-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
60915350 |
Appl. No.: |
15/846976 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 2260/54 20130101;
B60W 2556/50 20200201; B60W 20/14 20160101; B60W 2710/244 20130101;
B60L 58/13 20190201; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; Y02T 90/16 20130101;
Y04S 30/12 20130101; B60W 2510/244 20130101; B60L 7/10 20130101;
B60L 53/66 20190201; B60W 20/12 20160101; Y02T 90/167 20130101;
Y02T 90/168 20130101; B60W 20/13 20160101; Y02T 10/70 20130101;
Y02T 90/12 20130101; B60W 50/0097 20130101; Y02T 10/62
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60L 11/18 20060101
B60L011/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2016 |
JP |
2016-250842 |
Claims
1. A charging control apparatus for a vehicle, the vehicle
including a motor generator and an electric power storage device,
the motor generator being configured to be coupled to drive wheels,
the electric power storage device being electrically connected to
the motor generator, the charging control apparatus comprising: a
communication device configured to receive data from a server that
aggregates record data indicative of a travel record of each of the
vehicles; and a controller configured to execute processing for
external charging that is charging of the electric power storage
device by electric power supplied from a power supply on the
outside of the vehicle, the controller being configured to execute
the external charging in accordance with a target value of State Of
Charge of the electric power storage device, and the controller
being configured to lower the target value from a first target
value to a second target value in a case where the controller
predicts that the State Of Charge exceeds the target value by a
specified amount or larger in a section, in accordance with the
record data that is aggregated in the server, when the vehicle
starts traveling after completion of the external charging.
2. The charging control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is configured to increase the target value from the
second target value in accordance with an amount of lacking
electric power in a case where the controller predicts that the
State Of Charge reaches a lower limit value and the electric power
becomes insufficient in the section, in accordance with the record
data that is aggregated in the server, when the vehicle starts
traveling after the completion of the external charging in
accordance with the second target value.
3. The charging control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
controller is configured to increase the target value from the
second target value in accordance with the amount of the lacking
electric power in a section where the amount of the lacking
electric power is the largest in a case where the controller
predicts that that the State Of Charge reaches the lower limit
value and the electric power becomes insufficient in a plurality of
sections, in accordance with the record data that is aggregated in
the server, when the vehicle starts traveling after the completion
of the external charging in accordance with the second target
value.
4. A charging control method for a vehicle, the vehicle including a
motor generator coupled to drive wheels, an electric power storage
device electrically connected to the motor generator, and a
charging control apparatus, and the charging control apparatus
including a communication device and a controller, the
communication device being configured to receive data from a server
that aggregates record data indicative of a travel record of each
of the vehicles, and the controller being configured to execute
processing for external charging that is charging of the electric
power storage device by electric power supplied from a power supply
on the outside of the vehicle, the charging control method
comprising: executing, by the controller, the external charging in
accordance with a target value of State of Charge of the electric
power storage device; and lowering, by the controller, the target
value from a first target value to a second target value in a case
where the controller predicts that the State Of Charge exceeds the
target value by a specified amount or larger in a section in
accordance with the record data that is aggregated in the server
when the vehicle starts traveling after completion of the external
charging.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2016-250842 filed on Dec. 26, 2016 including the specification,
drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a charging control
apparatus for a vehicle and a charging control method for the same,
in which the vehicle is capable of storing electric power in an
in-vehicle electric power storage device and the electric power is
supplied from an electric power supply on the outside of a vehicle
(hereinafter also referred to as "external charging").
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] An information communication system that includes an
in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle and a center device is
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
2012-181183 (JP 2012-181183 A). The in-vehicle device and the
center device are mutually communicable. The center device stores
travel history data of a plurality of vehicles. The in-vehicle
device receives the travel history data of another vehicle from the
center device. The in-vehicle device stores a required electric
power amount on a route that a host vehicle has traveled in the
past. The in-vehicle device further computes a required electric
power amount on a route that the host vehicle has never traveled in
the past on the basis of the travel history data of the other
vehicle, which is received from the center device.
[0004] In JP 2012-181183 A, a required electric power amount from a
current location to a destination is computed with a high degree of
accuracy by using the stored required electric power amount (the
required electric power amount on the route that the host vehicle
has traveled in the past) and the computed required electric power
amount (the required electric power amount on the route that the
host vehicle has never traveled in the past).
SUMMARY
[0005] The vehicle includes a motor generator and an electric power
storage device. The motor generator performs regenerative power
generation during deceleration and the like of the vehicle, and the
electric power generated by the regenerative power generation
(hereinafter also referred to as "regenerative electric power") is
stored in the electric power storage device. In a technique
disclosed in JP 2012-181183 A, the required electric power amount
from the current location to the destination is taken into
consideration when a target value of external charging is decided.
However, a transition of State Of Charge (SOC) of the electric
power storage device from the current location to the destination
is not taken into consideration.
[0006] Accordingly, in the case where the external charging is
performed at a charging stand on top of a mountain, for example, in
accordance with the required electric power amount from the current
location to the destination, the electric power storage device is
charged until the SOC thereof reaches a value near an upper limit
value. In such a case, the regenerative electric power that is
generated at a time when the vehicle travels down the mountain may
not sufficiently be stored in the electric power storage device,
and some of the regenerative electric power is wasted.
[0007] The present disclosure provides a charging control apparatus
and a charging control method capable of reducing a possibility of
wasting regenerative electric power of a vehicle.
[0008] A first aspect of the present disclosure is a charging
control apparatus for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a motor
generator and an electric power storage device. The motor generator
is configured to be coupled to drive wheels. The electric power
storage device is electrically connected to the motor generator.
The charging control apparatus includes a communication device and
a controller. The communication device is configured to receive
data from a server that aggregates record data indicative of a
travel record of each of the vehicles. The controller is configured
to execute processing for external charging that is charging of the
electric power storage device by electric power supplied from a
power supply on the outside of the vehicle. The controller is
configured to execute the external charging in accordance with a
target value of State of Charge (SOC) of the electric power storage
device. The controller is configured to lower the target value from
a first target value to a second target value in a case where the
controller predicts that the SOC exceeds the target value by a
specified amount or larger in a section, in accordance with the
record data that is aggregated in the server, when the vehicle
starts traveling after completion of the external charging.
[0009] According to the above configuration, in the case where it
is predicted that the SOC exceeds the target value by the specified
amount or larger in the section when the vehicle starts traveling
after the completion of the external charging, the target value in
the external charging is lowered from the first target value to the
second target value. Thus, according to this charging control
apparatus, upon the completion of the external charging, a large
room is secured until the SOC reaches an upper limit value in
accordance with a situation. Therefore, a possibility of
regenerative electric power being wasted can be reduced.
[0010] In the vehicle, the controller may be configured to increase
the target value from the second target value in accordance with an
amount of lacking electric power in a case where the controller
predicts that the SOC reaches a lower limit value and the electric
power becomes insufficient in the section, in accordance with the
record data that is aggregated in the server, when the vehicle
starts traveling after the completion of the external charging in
accordance with the second target value.
[0011] According to the above configuration, in the case where it
is predicted that the SOC reaches the lower limit value and the
electric power becomes insufficient in the section when the vehicle
starts traveling after the completion of the external charging in
accordance with the second target value, the target value of the
SOC is increased from the second target value in accordance with
the amount of the lacking electric power. Thus, according to this
charging control apparatus, the target value of the SOC in the
external charging can be decided in a manner to prevent
insufficiency of the electric power on a future travel route of the
vehicle.
[0012] In the charging control apparatus, the controller may be
configured to increase the target value in the external charging
from the second target value in accordance with the amount of the
lacking electric power in a section where the amount of the lacking
electric power is the largest in a case where the controller
predicts that the SOC reaches the lower limit value and the
electric power becomes insufficient in the plurality of sections,
in accordance with the record data that is aggregated in the
server, when the vehicle starts traveling after the completion of
the external charging in accordance with the second target
value.
[0013] According to the above configuration, in the case where it
is predicted that the SOC reaches the lower limit value and the
electric power becomes insufficient in the plurality of sections
when the vehicle starts traveling after the completion of the
external charging in accordance with the second target value, the
target value of the SOC is increased from the second target value
in accordance with the amount of the lacking electric power in the
section where the amount of the lacking electric power is the
largest. Thus, according to this charging control apparatus, the
target value of the SOC in the external charging can be decided in
a manner to prevent the insufficiency of the electric power in any
of the sections of the future travel route of the vehicle.
[0014] A second aspect of the present disclosure is a charging
control method for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a motor
generator, an electric power storage device, and a charging control
apparatus. The motor generator is coupled to drive wheels. The
electric power storage device is electrically connected to the
motor generator. The charging control apparatus includes a
communication device and a controller. The communication device is
configured to receive data from a server that aggregates record
data indicative of a travel record of each of the vehicles. The
controller is configured to execute processing for external
charging that is charging of the electric power storage device by
electric power supplied from a power supply on the outside of the
vehicle. The charging control method including: executing, by the
controller, the external charging in accordance with a target value
of State of Charge (SOC) of the electric power storage device; and
lowering, by the controller, the target value from a first target
value to a second target value by the controller in a case where
the controller predicts that the SOC exceeds the target value by a
specified amount or larger in a section in accordance with the
record data that is aggregated in the server when the vehicle
starts traveling after completion of the external charging.
[0015] The present disclosure can provide the charging control
apparatus and the charging control method capable of reducing the
possibility of the regenerative electric power in the vehicle being
wasted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals
denote like elements, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of configurations of a vehicle,
a charging stand, and a server;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a table that shows one example of a database
stored in an HDD;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a chart that illustrates an example in which an
SOC exceeds the SOC after completion of external charging due to
travel of the vehicle after the completion of the external
charging;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a procedure of target SOC decision
processing;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a chart that illustrates an example in which the
SOC of an electric power storage device reaches a lower limit value
before a sufficient amount of regenerative electric power is
collected; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a procedure of the target SOC
decision processing in a modified example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0024] A detailed description will hereinafter be made on an
embodiment with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or
corresponding portions in the drawings are denoted by the same
reference numerals and the description thereon will not be
repeated.
[0025] System Configuration
[0026] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system 1 to which a
vehicle 10 according to this embodiment is applied. Referring to
FIG. 1, the system 1 includes the plurality of vehicles 10 and a
server 30. Note that, in this embodiment, the plurality of vehicles
10 are vehicles of the same type. Thus, the plurality of vehicles
10 has equivalent specifications.
[0027] The vehicle 10 is a connected vehicle that is continuously
connected to a network during actuation of a vehicle system. The
vehicle 10 is also an electric vehicle (EV) that includes a motor
as a drive power source. The vehicle 10 can perform external
charging in which an in-vehicle electric power storage device
stores electric power supplied from a charging stand 40.
[0028] The vehicle 10 is configured to send identification (ID)
that is allocated to each of the vehicles 10 and record data (for
example, global positioning system (GPS) data and SOC data of the
in-vehicle electric power storage device) indicative of a travel
record to the server 30 in specified cycles. The specified cycle is
a predetermined time interval and is a time interval of 15 seconds
or 30 seconds, for example. Hereinafter, a certain vehicle of the
plurality of vehicles 10 will also be referred to as a "host
vehicle 11", and the vehicles 10 other than the host vehicle 11
will also be referred to as "other vehicles 12" as a matter of
convenience.
[0029] The server 30 is configured to receive the ID and the record
data from each of the vehicles 10 in specified cycles. In the
server 30, a database that manages a transition of the SOC per
vehicle is constructed by aggregating the record data of each of
the vehicles 10. This database manages the transition of the SOC of
each of the vehicles 10 that start traveling from the charging
stand 40, and manages the transition of the SOC per starting point
(the charging stand 40). Note that the charging stands 40 are
installed throughout a country. A detailed description on the
database will be made below.
[0030] For example, the vehicle 10 performs the external charging
by using the charging stand 40. In this case, before the external
charging is started, a predicted transition result of the SOC in
future travel of the vehicle 10 is sent from the server 30 to the
vehicle 10 in response to a request from the vehicle 10. In the
vehicle 10, by referring to the received prediction result, a
target value of the SOC (hereinafter also referred to as a "target
SOC") in the external charging is decided. A detailed description
thereon will be made below.
[0031] Detailed Configurations of Vehicle (EV), Server, and
Charging Stand
[0032] FIG. 2 is a further detailed diagram of configurations of
the vehicle 10, the server 30, and the charging stand 40. Referring
to FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 includes an inlet 13, a charger 14, an
electric power storage device 15, a motor drive unit 16, a
communication device 17, a display device 18, a navigation system
29, and a controller 19. The server 30 includes a communication
device 31, a controller 32, and a hard disk drive (HDD) 33. The
charging stand 40 includes a power feeding facility 41 and a
connector 42.
[0033] First, the configuration of the charging stand 40 will be
described. The connector 42 is configured to be connectable to the
inlet 13 of the vehicle 10. The electric power supplied from the
power feeding facility 41 is supplied to the vehicle 10 via the
connector 42. The power feeding facility 41 includes a power
feeding device 49, a communication device 44, a display device 46,
and a controller 48. The power feeding device 49 is configured to
supply the electric power to the vehicle 10 by using the electric
power supplied from a system power supply, for example.
[0034] The communication device 44 is configured to be wirelessly
communicable with the server 30 (the communication device 31), for
example. The display device 46 is a display device that is
configured to display information on the external charging. The
controller 48 includes a CPU and memory, which are not shown,
therein and controls equipment (the communication device 44, the
display device 46, the power feeding device 49, and the like) of
the charging stand 40 on the basis of information stored in the
memory and information from each sensor.
[0035] Next, the configuration of the server 30 will be described.
The communication device 31 is configured to be wirelessly
communicable with the vehicle 10 (the communication device 17) and
the charging stand 40 (the communication device 44), for example.
The communication device 31 is connected to the controller 32 by a
communication line, sends information that is transmitted from the
controller 32 to the vehicle 10, and transmits information that is
received from the vehicle 10 to the controller 32. As described
above, the communication device 31 receives the record data (for
example, the GPS data and the SOC data) indicative of the travel
record and the ID of each of the vehicles 10 from each of the
vehicles 10 in the specified cycles, for example.
[0036] The controller 32 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
and memory, which are not shown, therein and is configured to
control equipment (the communication device 31, the HDD 33, and the
like) of the server 30 in accordance with a control program stored
in the memory.
[0037] The HDD 33 is a storage device that stores various types of
data. The HDD 33 stores the record data (for example, the GPS data
and the SOC data), which is received from each of the vehicles 10
in the specified cycles, in association with the ID of each of the
vehicles 10. The HDD 33 also stores the above-described database
(the database that manages the transition of the SOC of each of the
vehicles 10 per starting point (the charging stand 40)).
[0038] FIG. 3 is a table that shows one example of a database 50
stored in the HDD 33. Referring to FIG. 3, the database 50 manages
the SOC data (for example, S10 to S42) of the vehicles 10 (for
example, vehicles X1 to X4) by a travel distance from the starting
point (for example, D00 to D13) in association with the starting
point (for example, charging stands A1 to A4). An interval of the
travel distance, at which the SOC data is managed, is a specified
interval. As the specified interval, any of intervals from several
tens of meters to several kilometers is adopted, for example.
[0039] Next, a description will be made on a generation method of
the database 50. For example, the controller 32 extracts the SOC
data at a time point at which the vehicle X1 leaves the charging
stand A1 from the record data of the vehicle X1 that is stored in
the HDD 33. More specifically, of the record data of the vehicle
X1, the controller 32 extracts the SOC data that is associated with
the GPS data indicative of the vicinity of the charging stand A1
(within several meters to several tens of meters in radius, for
example). The controller 32 also extracts the SOC data from the
record data of the vehicle X1 that is stored in the HDD 33 every
time the vehicle X1 (the vehicle 10) advances for the specified
interval after leaving the charging stand A1 (the charging stand
40). Note that whether the SOC data is the SOC data at a point at
which the vehicle X1 has advanced for the specified interval is
determined by referring to the GPS data that is associated with the
SOC data. In a similar method, the controller 32 extracts the SOC
data every time each of the vehicles 10 that leaves the charging
stand advances for the specified interval. In this way, the
database 50 (FIG. 3) is generated.
[0040] Referring again to FIG. 2, the configuration of the vehicle
10 will next be described. The inlet 13 is configured to be
connectable to the connector 42 of the power feeding facility 41
that is provided in the charging stand 40. The charger 14 is
provided between the inlet 13 and the electric power storage device
15, converts the electric power received from the charging stand 40
to the electric power storable in the electric power storage device
15, and outputs the converted electric power to the electric power
storage device 15.
[0041] The electric power storage device 15 is an electric power
storing element that is configured to be chargeable and
dischargeable. The electric power storage device 15 is configured
by including a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a
nickel-metal hydride battery, or a lead-acid battery and a power
storage element such as an electric double-layered capacitor.
[0042] The motor drive unit 16 is electrically connected to the
electric power storage device 15. The motor drive unit 16 generates
vehicle drive power by using the electric power that is supplied
from the electric power storage device 15. The motor drive unit 16
includes: a motor generator that is mechanically connected
(coupled) to drive wheels; and a power control unit (an inverter
and the like) that controls an energization amount of the motor
generator. Output of the motor drive unit 16 (the energization
amount of the motor generator) is controlled by a control signal
from the controller 19.
[0043] The communication device 17 is configured to be wirelessly
communicable with the server 30 (the communication device 31), for
example. The communication device 17 is connected to the controller
19 by a communication line, sends information that is transmitted
from the controller 19 to the server 30, and transmits information
that is received from the server 30 to the controller 19. As
described above, the communication device 17 sends the record data
and the ID of the corresponding vehicle 10 to the server 30 in the
specified cycles.
[0044] The display device 18 is a display device that is configured
to display information on the external charging and the like. The
navigation system 29 is a system that guides a user through a route
to a destination. In the navigation system 29, internal memory (not
shown) stores map information, for example. The navigation system
29 displays a current location of the vehicle 10 on a map by using
information indicative of the current location of the vehicle 10,
which is acquired by using the GPS, and the map information.
[0045] The controller 19 includes a CPU and memory, which are not
shown, therein and controls equipment (the charger 14, the motor
drive unit 16, the communication device 17, the display device 18,
the navigation system 29, and the like) of the vehicle 10 on the
basis of information stored in the memory and information from each
sensor. Note that a configuration including the controller 19 and
the communication device 17 is one example of the "charging control
apparatus".
[0046] The controller 19 is configured to compute the SOC of the
electric power storage device 15 by using an integrated value of
output of a current sensor (not shown) that detects a current of
the electric power storage device 15, for example.
[0047] In addition, the controller 19 stores data indicative of an
upper limit value and a lower limit value of the SOC as well as the
target SOC in the external charging in the internal memory. The
controller 19 controls the charger 14 such that the external
charging continues until the SOC of the electric power storage
device 15 reaches the target SOC. Note that the target SOC is set
to a first target SOC (for example, 80%) by default. The controller
19 changes the target SOC in accordance with a situation. Next, a
detailed description will be made on a decision method of the
target SOC in the external charging.
[0048] Decision on Target SOC
[0049] The motor generator that is provided in the motor drive unit
16 is configured to perform regenerative power generation during
deceleration of the vehicle 10, during a reduction in acceleration
of the vehicle 10 on a downhill road, and the like, for example.
Regenerative electric power that is generated by the regenerative
power generation is stored in the electric power storage device 15.
However, in the case where the SOC of the electric power storage
device 15 has reached the upper limit value, the electric power
storage device 15 can no longer store the regenerative electric
power even when the regenerative electric power is generated.
Accordingly, in the case where the external charging is performed
at the charging stand 40 installed on top of a mountain, for
example, such that the SOC reaches a value near the upper limit
value, the regenerative electric power that is generated at a time
when the vehicle travels down the mountain may not sufficiently be
stored in the electric power storage device 15. In such a case,
some of the regenerative electric power is possibly wasted.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a chart that illustrates an example in which the
SOC exceeds the SOC after completion of the external charging due
to travel of the vehicle 10 after the completion of the external
charging. A horizontal axis represents the travel distance of the
vehicle 10, and a vertical axis represents the SOC of the electric
power storage device 15.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 4, a travel distance D0 point (0 km) is
the installation location of the charging stand 40. The external
charging is supposedly performed by using the charging stand 40
until the SOC of the electric power storage device 15 reaches S1
(the target SOC). A route from the D0 point to a D1 point is a
downhill road. In this case, the regenerative electric power is
generated from the D0 point to the D1 point by the reduction in the
acceleration of the vehicle 10 and the like, and the SOC of the
electric power storage device 15 is increased from S1 to S2, for
example. Thereafter, an uphill road or a flat road mainly
continues, and the SOC of the electric power storage device 15 is
gradually reduced from S2.
[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 4, an increase amount of the
SOC (hereinafter also simply referred to as an "SOC increase
amount") that is compared to the SOC upon the completion of the
external charging (at the travel distance D0 point) becomes the
maximum at the travel distance D1 point. Hereinafter, a maximum
value of the SOC increase amount will also be referred to as a
"maximum SOC increase amount". For example, in the case where the
upper limit value of the SOC is positioned between S1 and S2, the
regenerative electric power that is generated in a period from a
time point at which the SOC reaches the upper limit value to a time
point at which the SOC starts being reduced is not stored in the
electric power storage device 15 and thus is wasted.
[0053] For example, in the case where it is acknowledged in advance
that the SOC is stuck to the upper limit value due to the travel of
the host vehicle 11 after the completion of the external charging,
a possibility of the regenerative electric power being wasted can
be reduced by lowering the target SOC (S1) in the external
charging.
[0054] Accordingly, in the vehicle 10 (the host vehicle 11)
according to this embodiment, in the case where it is predicted
that the SOC exceeds the target SOC (the first target SOC) by a
specified amount or larger in a section, in accordance with the
record data (the record data of the other vehicles 12) that is
aggregated in the server 30, when the host vehicle 11 starts
traveling after the completion of the external charging, the
controller 19 lowers the target SOC from the first target SOC to a
second target SOC (the second target SOC<the first target
SOC).
[0055] The specified amount is, for example, the upper limit value
of the SOC--the target SOC (the first target SOC). In this
embodiment, the controller 19 determines whether the maximum SOC
increase amount is equal to or larger than the specified amount and
thereby predicts whether the SOC exceeds the target SOC (the first
target SOC) by the specified amount or larger in the section when
the host vehicle 11 starts traveling after the completion of the
external charging. That is, when the maximum SOC increase amount is
equal to or larger than the specified amount, it is predicted that
the SOC exceeds the first target SOC by the specified amount or
larger in the section by the future travel of the host vehicle
11.
[0056] According to the vehicle 10, upon the completion of the
external charging, a large room is secured until the SOC reaches
the upper limit value in accordance with the situation. Thus, the
possibility of the regenerative electric power being wasted can be
reduced.
[0057] Note that the second target SOC is a value that is obtained
by subtracting (the maximum SOC increase amount--the specified
amount) or a value that exceeds (the maximum SOC increase
amount--the specified amount) from the first target SOC. In this
way, it is possible to reduce such a possibility that the SOC of
the electric power storage device 15 exceeds the upper limit value
due to the travel of the vehicle 10 after the completion of the
external charging.
[0058] Prediction Method of Maximum SOC Increase Amount
[0059] Next, a description will be made on one example of a
prediction method of the maximum SOC increase amount in the case
where the host vehicle 11 starts traveling after the completion of
the external charging. First, the host vehicle 11 sends data (the
GPS data) indicative of the current location (the location of the
charging stand) to the server 30. The controller 32 of the server
30 searches the charging stand 40 that corresponds to the received
GPS data (for example, the charging stand A1 (FIG. 3)) on the
database 50 (FIG. 3). For example, the controller 32 searches the
charging stand 40 that exists within several meters to several tens
of meters in radius from the point indicated by the received GPS
data.
[0060] In the case where the charging stand A1 is found, the
controller 32 extracts the SOC data of the other vehicle(s) 12 that
is associated with the charging stand A1. For example, the
controller 32 extracts the SOC data at each of the travel distances
up to a specified travel distance (for example, D13 (FIG. 3)). In
the case where the data of the plurality of other vehicles 12 is
found, the controller 32 computes an average value of a plurality
of types of the SOC data (hereinafter also referred to as "average
SOC data") per travel distance. There is a case where an initial
value (the SOC at the time point of leaving the charging stand 40)
differs in each of the types of the data of the plurality of other
vehicles 12. However, the average value of the SOC data of the
plurality of other vehicles 12 represents an average change amount
of the SOC in the plurality of other vehicles 12 (how much the SOC
is increased by the future travel of the host vehicle 11 and the
like).
[0061] The controller 32 predicts the transition of the SOC (for
example, a transition L1 of the SOC (FIG. 4)) by executing known
interpolation processing, for example, on the basis of the computed
average SOC data per travel distance. The server 30 sends data
indicative of the predicted transition of the SOC to the host
vehicle 11. By referring to the received data indicative of the
transition of the SOC, the controller 19 extracts the maximum value
of the SOC (for example, S2 (FIG. 4)) and the initial value of the
SOC (for example, S1 (FIG. 4)) in the future transition of the SOC
and subtracts the initial value of the SOC from the maximum value
of the SOC, so as to compute the maximum SOC increase amount.
[0062] As described above, in the case where it is determined that
the maximum SOC increase amount is equal to or larger than the
specified amount (the upper limit value of the SOC--the target SOC
(the first target SOC)), there is a high possibility that the SOC
exceeds the upper limit value due to the future travel of the
vehicle 10. Accordingly, the controller 19 lowers the target SOC
from the first target SOC to the second target SOC.
[0063] Procedure of Target SOC Decision Processing
[0064] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a procedure of target SOC decision
processing. The processing shown in the flowchart on the left is
executed by the host vehicle 11. The processing shown in the
flowchart on the right is executed by the server 30. The processing
shown by these flowcharts is executed after the connector 42 is
connected to the inlet 13 for the external charging, for
example.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 19 acquires the GPS data
from the navigation system 29 and controls the communication device
17 to send a data request for requesting the predicted data on the
transition of the SOC in the future travel and the acquired GPS
data to the server 30 (step S100).
[0066] When the server 30 receives the data request from the host
vehicle 11 via the communication device 31, the controller 32
refers to the database 50 (FIG. 3) so as to extract the SOC data
per travel distance of each of the other vehicles 12 that have left
the charging stand near a stop location of the host vehicle 11 (the
location indicated by the received GPS data) (the data on the
transition of the SOC in each of the other vehicles 12) (step
S110).
[0067] The controller 32 computes the average SOC data per travel
distance, for example, on the basis of the extracted SOC data and
predicts the transition of the SOC on the basis of the computed
average SOC data per travel distance (step S120). The controller 32
controls the communication device 31 so as to send the data
indicative of the predicted transition of the SOC to the host
vehicle 11 (step S130).
[0068] After sending the data request to the server 30 in step
S100, the controller 19 monitors whether the predicted data on the
transition of the SOC has been received. Once reception of the
predicted data on the transition of the SOC from the server 30 is
confirmed, the controller 19 computes the maximum SOC increase
amount on the basis of the predicted data on the transition of the
SOC that has been received (step S140).
[0069] Thereafter, the controller 19 determines whether the
computed maximum SOC increase amount is equal to or larger than a
difference between the upper limit value of the SOC and the target
SOC (the first target SOC) (the specified amount) (step S150). If
it is determined that the maximum SOC increase amount is equal to
or larger than the difference between the upper limit value of the
SOC and the target SOC (YES in step S150), the controller 19 lowers
the target SOC from the first target SOC to the second target SOC
(step S160). Thereafter, the controller 19 executes the processing
for the external charging in accordance with the second target SOC
(step S170).
[0070] On the other hand, if it is determined that the maximum SOC
increase amount is smaller than the difference between the upper
limit value of the SOC and the target SOC (NO in step S150), the
controller 19 executes the processing for the external charging in
accordance with the first target SOC (in a state of maintaining the
target SOC to the first target SOC) (step S170).
[0071] As it has been described so far, in the vehicle 10 according
to this embodiment, in the case where it is predicted that the SOC
exceeds the target SOC (the first target SOC) by the specified
amount or larger in the section, in accordance with the record data
that is aggregated in the server 30, when the host vehicle 11
starts traveling after the completion of the external charging, the
controller 19 lowers the target SOC from the first target SOC to
the second target SOC. Thus, according to the vehicle 10, upon the
completion of the external charging, the large room is secured
until the SOC reaches the upper limit value in accordance with the
situation. Therefore, the possibility of the regenerative electric
power being wasted can be reduced.
MODIFIED EXAMPLE
[0072] In the above embodiment, in order to avoid a situation where
the regenerative electric power is wasted after the completion of
the external charging, in the case where it is predicted that the
maximum SOC increase amount in the future travel is equal to or
larger than the specified amount, the target SOC in the external
charging is lowered from the first target SOC to the second target
SOC. In regard to the vehicle 10 according to this modified
example, attention is focused on such a point that, due to lowering
of the target SOC to the second target SOC, the SOC of the electric
power storage device 15 possibly reaches a lower limit value before
a sufficient amount of the regenerative electric power is
collected.
[0073] FIG. 6 is a chart that illustrates an example in which the
SOC of the electric power storage device 15 reaches the lower limit
value before the sufficient amount of the regenerative electric
power is collected. A horizontal axis represents the travel
distance of the vehicle 10, and a vertical axis represents the SOC
of the electric power storage device 15.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 6, a transition L20 of the SOC represents
a prediction result of the transition of the SOC in the future
travel of the host vehicle 11 after the target SOC is lowered from
S06 (the first target SOC) to S04 (the second target SOC). Data
indicative of the transition L20 of the SOC is computed by changing
the entire data indicative of the transition of the SOC that is
received from the server 30 (the predicted data based on the record
data of the plurality of other vehicles 12) in accordance with a
change in the initial value (the target SOC), for example. By
lowering the target SOC to S04, the SOC falls below the upper limit
value (S07) at a travel distance D07 point at which the SOC becomes
the maximum.
[0075] However, the SOC falls below the lower limit value (S03) in
a section between the travel distances D01 and D03 and a section
between the travel distances D04 and D06. For example, the electric
power that lacks in the section from D01 to D03 is the electric
power that corresponds to S03-S02 (hereinafter also referred to as
"first lacking electric power", and the electric power that lacks
in the section from D04 to D06 is the electric power that
corresponds to S03-S01 (hereinafter also referred to as "second
lacking electric power"). The second lacking electric power is
greater than the first lacking electric power. In particular, the
vehicle 10 is the EV. Accordingly, when the SOC of the electric
power storage device 15 reaches the lower limit value, it becomes
difficult for the vehicle 10 to continue the travel.
[0076] In view of the above, in the vehicle 10 (the host vehicle
11) according to this modified example, in the case where it is
predicted that the SOC reaches the lower limit value and the
electric power becomes insufficient in the section when the host
vehicle 11 starts traveling after the completion of the external
charging in accordance with the second target SOC, in accordance
with the record data (the record data of the other vehicles 12)
that is aggregated in the server 30, the controller 19 increases
the target SOC from the second target SOC in accordance with an
amount of the lacking electric power. In particular, in the case
where it is predicted that the SOC reaches the lower limit value
and the electric power becomes insufficient in the plurality of
sections, the controller 19 increases the target SOC from the
second target SOC in accordance with the amount of the lacking
electric power in the section where the amount of the lacking
electric power is the largest.
[0077] That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the controller 19
increases the target SOC from S04 (the second target SOC) to S05 in
accordance with the amount of the second lacking electric power in
the section between the travel distances D04 and D06 (the section
where the amount of the lacking electric power is the largest). In
this way, the future transition of the SOC in the vehicle 10 is
represented by L10. Thus, the electric power never becomes
insufficient in any of the sections of the future travel route of
the vehicle 10.
[0078] Procedure of Target SOC Decision Processing
[0079] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a procedure of the target SOC
decision processing in this modified example. The processing shown
in the flowchart on the left is executed by the host vehicle 11.
The processing shown in the flowchart on the right is executed by
the server 30. The processing shown by these flowcharts is executed
after the connector 42 is connected to the inlet 13 for the
external charging, for example. Because the processing shown in
steps S200 to S260 and S290 are respectively the same as the
processing shown in steps S100 to S160 and S170 in FIG. 5, the
description thereon will not be made.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 7, if the target SOC is lowered to the
second target SOC in step S260, the controller 19 determines
whether a section where the SOC falls below the lower limit value
(a section where the electric power becomes insufficient) will be
present when the host vehicle 11 starts traveling after the
completion of the external charging in accordance with the second
target SOC (step S270).
[0081] For example, by referring to the data indicative of the
predicted transition of the SOC after the target SOC is lowered to
the second target SOC (for example, the transition L20 of the SOC
(FIG. 6)), the controller 19 extracts the minimum value of the SOC
(for example, S01 (FIG. 6)) and the initial value of the SOC (for
example, S04 (FIG. 6)) in the future transition of the SOC, and
subtracts the minimum value of the SOC from the initial value of
the SOC to compute a maximum SOC reduction amount. Then, if the
maximum SOC reduction amount is larger than a value that is
obtained by subtracting the lower limit value of the SOC (for
example, S03 (FIG. 6)) from the initial value of the SOC, the
controller 19 determines that the section where the SOC falls below
the lower limit value (the section where the electric power becomes
insufficient) will be present when the host vehicle 11 starts
traveling after the completion of the external charging in
accordance with the second target SOC.
[0082] If it is determined that the section where the SOC falls
below the lower limit value will be present (YES in step S270), the
controller 19 increases the target SOC such that the electric power
does not become insufficient in the section where the amount of the
lacking electric power is the largest (step S280). For example, the
controller 19 increases the target SOC by adding the lacking
electric power (for example, S03-S01 in FIG. 6) or the larger value
than the lacking electric power to the second target SOC.
Thereafter, the controller 19 executes the processing for the
external charging in accordance with the increased target SOC (step
S290).
[0083] On the other hand, if it is determined that the section
where the SOC falls below the lower limit value will not be present
(NO in step S270), the controller 19 executes the processing for
the external charging in accordance with the second target SOC (in
a state of maintaining the target SOC to the second target SOC)
(step S290).
[0084] As it has been described so far, in the vehicle 10 according
to this modified example, in the case where it is predicted that
the SOC reaches the lower limit value and the electric power
becomes insufficient in the section, in accordance with the record
data (the record data of the other vehicles 12) that is aggregated
in the server 30, when the host vehicle 11 starts traveling after
the completion of the external charging in accordance with the
second target SOC the controller 19 increases the target SOC from
the second target SOC in accordance with the amount of the lacking
electric power. Accordingly, according to the vehicle 10, the
target value of the SOC in the external charging can be decided
such that the electric power does not become insufficient on the
future travel route of the vehicle 10.
Other Embodiments
[0085] In the above embodiment, the target SOC decision processing
for the external charging is executed in the vehicle 10. However,
the target SOC decision processing does not always have to be
executed in the vehicle 10. For example, the target SOC decision
processing may be executed in the charging stand 40. In this case,
of the processing in the flowcharts shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the
processing that is executed by the controller 19 of the host
vehicle 11 is executed by the controller 48 of the charging stand
40, for example. In addition, all of the processing executed by the
controller 19 does not always have to be executed by the controller
48. The controller 48 only has to execute processing to change the
target SOC at least in the case where it is predicted that the SOC
exceeds the target SOC by the specified amount or larger in the
section when the host vehicle 11 starts traveling after the
completion of the external charging. In this case, the
communication device 44 communicates with the communication device
31 of the server 30. That is, in the above embodiment, the
"charging control apparatus" is mounted on the vehicle 10. However,
the "charging control apparatus" may be mounted on the charging
stand 40.
[0086] In the above embodiment, the vehicle 10 is the electric
vehicle. However, the vehicle 10 does not always have to be the
electric vehicle and may be a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), for
example. The vehicle 10 only has to be chargeable externally and be
able to generate the regenerative power.
[0087] In the above embodiment, the vehicle 10 is continuously
connected to the network. However, the vehicle 10 does not always
have to be connected to the network. The vehicle 10 only has to be
communicable with the server 30 when necessary, for example.
[0088] In the above embodiment, in the case where the maximum SOC
increase amount is equal to or larger than the specified amount
(the upper limit value of the SOC--target SOC), the target SOC is
lowered from the first target SOC to the second target SOC. That
is, when it is predicted that the SOC exceeds the upper limit value
due to the future travel of the host vehicle 11, the target SOC is
lowered. However, the controller 19 may lower the target SOC even
when it is not necessarily predicted that the SOC exceeds the upper
limit value. For example, the controller 19 may lower the target
SOC in the case where the maximum SOC increase amount is equal to
or larger than a value (>0) that is smaller than the value of
(the upper limit value of the SOC--target SOC).
[0089] In the above embodiment, the server 30 predicts the
transition of the SOC that is occurred by the travel of the host
vehicle 11 after the external charging. However, the server 30 does
not always have to predict the transition of the SOC. For example,
the transition of the SOC may be predicted in the vehicle 10. In
this case, the SOC data per travel distance of each of the
plurality of other vehicles 12 is sent from the server 30 to the
host vehicle 11, the plurality of other vehicles 12 having left the
charging stand 40 that the host vehicle 11 is about to use. Then,
the transition of the SOC is predicted in the host vehicle 11 on
the basis of the received data.
[0090] In the above embodiment, in order to predict the transition
of the SOC that is occurred by the travel of the host vehicle 11
after the external charging, only the SOC data of each of the other
vehicles 12 is used, the other vehicles 12 having started traveling
from the charging stand 40 that the host vehicle 11 is about to
use. However, the data that is used to predict the transition of
the SOC is not limited to the SOC data of the other vehicles 12.
For example, in the case where the host vehicle 11 has started
traveling from the same charging stand 40 in the past, in addition
to the SOC data of the other vehicles 12, the SOC data of the host
vehicle 11 may be used to predict the transition of the SOC.
[0091] In the above embodiment, in the case where the maximum SOC
increase amount is equal to or larger than the specified amount,
the controller 19 lowers the target SOC from the first target SOC
to the second target SOC. However, in the case where the maximum
SOC increase amount is equal to or larger than the specified
amount, the controller 19 does not always have to lower the target
SOC. For example, in the case where the maximum SOC increase amount
is equal to or larger than the specified amount, the controller 19
may check with the user whether to lower the target SOC. More
specifically, in the case where the maximum SOC increase amount is
equal to or larger than the specified amount, the controller 19
causes the display device 18 to display a screen for checking with
the user whether to lower the target SOC. When the user selects an
option to permit lowering of the target SOC, the controller 19
lowers the target SOC. On the other hand, when the user selects an
option to disallow lowering of the target SOC, the controller 19
does not lower the target SOC. In this way, the user's intention
can be reflected to the decision on the target SOC.
[0092] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed
herein are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The
scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims rather than the
above description, and intends to include all modifications falling
within the claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *